HC Deb 04 December 1950 vol 482 cc19-20
40. Mr. McAdden

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the £2,618 allocated to office expenses in the accounts of the Road Passenger Executive are represented by the rent of the headquarters of this Executive in London.

Mr. Barnes

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission.

Mr. McAdden

Are there any questions to which the Minister does give an answer?

Mr. Harrison

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, speaking generally, the public will recognise the wisdom of his refusing to allow the Transport Commission to be tied as suggested in these Questions?

Mr. Renton

Is the Minister aware that under the Transport Act he has power to seek information from the Commission? Will he tell the House whether this is not a matter on which he should have sought information, bearing in mind that the public are entitled to know how their money is spent and their assets dispersed?

Mr. Barnes

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the whole of the information is in the Annual Report. If he wants any further information he can get it and, within the proper arrangements, I should certainly see that any hon. Member who requires information should have it. As I have pointed out repeatedly, I do not intend to duplicate unnecessary staff and expenditure in my Department on simple machinery which the Transport Commission is charged to operate.

Sir Stanley Holmes

Does not the Minister of Transport appear, this afternoon, to be batting on a Brisbane wicket?

Mr. McAdden

May I ask in which part of the Report is the information relating to this Question to be found? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] I suspect that I shall not have an answer, so I will go on to ask the next Question.